Mushrooms are tiny and adorable plants. They have an umbrella-shaped cap located on a single stem and have been a part of Asian cuisines for a long. In Chinese and Japanese culture, mushrooms are also well-known for their medicinal properties.
Listed below are the widely known edible mushrooms.
-
White button
The term “Button” is normally used for small mushroom species. There are a couple of more varieties, which contain this term with their names.
This particular mushroom is also known as Able mushroom, Button, or Champignon. Talking about the characteristics of this mushroom, they are the commonly available species. They have a mild taste.
Nearly 90% of the mushrooms that we consume belong to this variety. These mushrooms offer a less intense flavor. You can eat it either cooked or raw.
White button mushrooms also work perfectly well in salads and soups. You can use them whole or halved. You can use these mushrooms to create an energizing and delicious stew.
-
Open cup/flat
Open cup mushrooms are white in color. They are usually large and soft. Their shape makes them a perfect choice for using them whole.
After roasting, these mushrooms can serve as a great alternative to the meat. Besides, you can make a variety of recipes by taking advantage of these intensely flavored mushrooms.
-
Closed cup
The closed cup mushrooms come in medium size. These are the most common type of mushrooms. You can eat them raw with salads or fry them to be used as stuffing.
These mushrooms have some similarities with the open cup species. However, both these options vary in terms of taste. The mushroom and chicken puff pie is a popular recipe you can make with closed cup mushrooms.
-
Chestnut
The chestnut mushrooms are available in brown color. They are often confused with the closed cup species. However, these mushrooms have a more refined and deeper flavor.
You can use them as a pizza topping or make a popular delicacy known as mushroom risotto.
-
Enoki mushrooms
Unlike other mushrooms, these species are relatively thin. These are quite common in Asian and Japanese cooking. They grow in the shape of clumps.
Some other names of this variety include futu, enokidake, Enokitake, and winter mushrooms. The edible species of this variety are relatively small and have a shiny white cap.
These mushrooms are connected to stems. Apparently, they don’t have an appearance like a reglar mushroom. The reason being is their distinctive appearance. These mushrooms also work well in stir-fries and broths.
They offer a distinctive crunch. Hence, most of the people like them raw. The wild species of enoki mushrooms usually grow under a variety of trees including:
- Chinese Hackberry trees
- Ash trees
- Mulberry trees
- Persimmon trees
-
Chanterelle Mushroom
The bright yellow color is the distinctive feature of the Chanterelle mushroom. This variety offers both peppery and sweet at the same time.
Some poisonous mushrooms also have a similar appearance. Hence, when out on mushroom hunting, you need to be extra careful. The lookalikes can cause cramps and severe diarrhea.
These mushrooms are also referred to as yellow, egg mushroom, golden, girolle, and pfifferling. They have a trumpet-like structure. There is a depression on the cap.
The chanterelle is among the most famous wild mushrooms. This is so, as they are hard to grow on a farm. Hence, they are normally foraged. These mushrooms have a smell identical to that of apricot.
These mushrooms are a part of numerous European cuisines. Besides, they are also commonly used in Austrian and French recipes. This species is native to the US.
-
Portobello
It is another popular type of Agaricus Bisporus. It is referred to as one of the oldest varieties. For years, these mushrooms were imported from Italy. However, they are now grown in different other countries as well.
Portobella and field mushroom are some of the other names of this mushroom. They are large and have a meaty flavor. Hence, you can use them as a viable alternative to meat.
They can serve the purpose well when stuffed or baked. Due to their meaty texture, you can use them as a toast topper. These mushrooms are quite popular in Italian cooking.
The young and small portabellos mushrooms are known as criminis. A fully-grown mushroom is large enough to fit your palm.
You can use them in a variety of ways. However, the best way is to stuff or grill them. On the other hand, it is possible to use them in a variety of ways such as pizza, sandwiches, pasta sauces, and omelets.
-
Giant Puffball Mushrooms
As evident from the name, puffball mushrooms are extremely huge. They can weigh up to 20 kg. Nevertheless, puffball mushrooms are picked when they are relatively small.
After turning brown or yellow, these mushrooms start to bear spores. At this stage, these mushrooms aren’t suitable to consume. If eaten, they can upset your stomach.
In addition, the immature poisonous mushrooms also look similar to puffballs. The only way to differentiate is by cutting these mushrooms independently.
If you see a white interior, it is an edible puffball. On the other hand, a poisonous mushroom will have a yellowish inside.
When fully grown, a puffball mushroom will eventually burst. As a result, trillions of spores start to fly into the air.
-
Porcini mushrooms
Porcini is also famous as Cep mushrooms. Just like some other varieties, these mushrooms are also used in Italian cooking. They have a creamy as well as nutty flavor.
Some people compare their taste to that of sourdough bread. They are capable of growing extremely large. These mushrooms can achieve a width of 10 inches. However, these mushrooms are harvested when they are 1 inch in size.
Some other popular names of this mushroom include Cèpe, Borowik, king bolete, bolete, penny bun, Polish mushroom, stensopp, and steinpilz. Apart from the canned options, you can also buy them fresh.
In most cases, these mushrooms are sold after being dried. The cap of porcini is of reddish-brown color, which sits on a white stem. It is also known as the king of wild mushrooms.
They usually grow in the wild during a specific season. Hence, they are sold at high prices. These mushrooms are popular for their aroma, strong woodsy flavor, and smooth texture.
-
Morel Mushroom
Morels are among the most sought-after mushrooms that grow in the wild. Since they are grown on farms, it is not possible to find them in grocery stores. Morel mushrooms are also known as “Morchella”.
These mushrooms have a nutty and earthy flavor. Besides, their meaty texture also adds more flavor to the recipe. Poisonous morels are known as “false morels”. They are identical to edible morels.
Hence, it is essential to know the key differences between these two. Since these mushrooms are hard to find, they tend to be expensive.
-
Maitake Mushroom
bunch of Maitake mushroom on white background
This particular mushroom is also popular as “Hen-of-the-woods”. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t confuse it with the “Chicken of the woods” mushroom.
Maitake is a Japanese term, which means “dancing mushroom”. After reaching a certain size, these mushrooms aren’t suitable for eating. Rather, they are preferred for their medicinal properties.
These mushrooms are known to boost our immune system. The Maitake mushroom can also lower the blood sugar level due to its hypoglycemic effect.
In addition, they can also help to manage cholesterol levels. This is the reason why these mushrooms are have been used in Chinese and Japanese cuisines. These mushrooms have an earthy aroma.
This type of mushroom grows at the lowest part or base of an oak tree. Talking about the appearance, these mushrooms resemble a cabbage. Besides, being found in the wild, Maitake mushrooms are also cultivated.
-
Matsutake Mushrooms
Also known as pine mushrooms, these species are highly acclaimed for Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. Unlike other mushrooms, Matsutake offers a unique spicy aroma.
These are hard-to-find mushrooms. The reason being is their specific growth behavior. They only grow under a specific type of tree. Besides, they stay hidden under the leaves, which makes it difficult to locate.
Another reason for their scarcity is the fact that rabbits love to feast on these mushrooms. All these factors render Matsutake the most expensive species.
Normally, at the start of the season, the maximum rate of one pound Matsutake can go up to $460. This is the rate for wild Matsutake, while the cultivated species of this mushroom is available at $40 per pound (During August and September).
-
Oyster Mushroom
Oyster mushrooms have various other names including Shimeji, Angel’s wings, Tree oyster, and Abalone mushrooms.
In a wild setting, they usually grow around the tree trunks. However, the oyster mushrooms available in the stores are cultivated in agricultural farms.
These species have white color and are shaped like a fan. They have a delicate flavor as well as odor. In most cases, Oyster mushrooms are used in Chinese and Japanese recipes.
-
Reishi Mushrooms
Also known as the lingzhi mushroom, the particular variety is highly prized among the medicinal mushrooms. Since it is a polypore, which suggests that it is tough like a cork. Hence, too tough to eat.
These mushrooms also grow around the trees. It isn’t easy to find them in the wild. However, these mushrooms are now cultivated on a commercial scale.
The medicinal benefits of Reishi mushrooms are numerous. In fact, scientists are working on this variety to unfold some of its other benefits. At present, reishi is used for curing fatigue.
Apart from this, these mushrooms also help to lower cholesterol levels and boost immunity. Some of the species are also known to lower inflammation and blood pressure.
-
Crimino Mushroom
This is another species of Agaricus Bisporus. These mushrooms are the older version of another species called “Button” mushrooms. Due to their hardness and brownish color, these mushrooms are highly suitable for stews and soups.
They are also known as young portobello. Nevertheless, these mushrooms are quite different in color and texture. In addition, crimino is a firmer and flavorful species.
They look similar to white button mushrooms. Hence, both of these species are interchangeable. This allows the retailers to sell crimino mushrooms with the name of “Baby Bellas.”
-
King Trumpet Mushroom
These mushrooms are also known some other names including Trumpet royale, King oyster, and king brown mushrooms. The king tumpet mushrooms have a thick texture and meaty stem.
The cap is also bigger, giving it a gigantic appearance. These mushrooms grow on the stems of large trees.
-
Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms are native to Japan. The term Shiitake is a Japanese word meaning “Oak Fungus.” The name clearly describes where you can find these mushrooms in a forest (under the Oak tree).
However, most of the species of shiitake are grown on farms. When fresh, these mushrooms offer a light woodsy aroma. Hence, you would experience an oaky flavor. In dried form, these mushrooms offer an intense flavor.
These mushrooms are a common choice for soupy noodles and oriental broths. Besides, these are normally found in Asian cuisines. They have a long stem, which is topped by a dark brown umbrella.
The stems are relatively hard to chew. Hence, they are separated before using them in a recipe. Besides, shiitake mushrooms also offer medicinal benefits. They have been a part of conventional Asian medicine for centuries.
These mushrooms have a meaty texture. This feature makes them identical to portobellos. Furthermore, these mushrooms have an earthy and smoky flavor. They are available on the market in dried form.
They look like an oyster’s shell. You can tear them easily, yet slicing them is relatively difficult. This variety is suitable for stir-fries and pasta dishes.
Some other names of this species include Chinese black, black forest, brown oak, black winter, oriental black, and golden oak.
-
Chicken Of The Woods Mushrooms
The scientific name of this mushroom is “Laetiporus”, meaning “Having Bright Pores.” These are grown in the shape of large clusters. They grow on the sides of specific trees.
Chicken of the woods mushrooms has a bright and attractive orange color. They have a deeper orange color in the middle of their cap. These mushrooms have a flavor that resembles that of chicken meat.
So, you can replace the chicken in various recipes. Besides, you can cook these in different ways. Hence, it serves as a viable substitute for chicken.
-
Black Trumpet Mushroom
This type of mushroom is also referred to as black chanterelles. When it comes to appearance, these mushrooms aren’t that attractive. Yet, their flavor is widely acclaimed and sought after.
They have a rich smoky flavor. After being dried, these mushrooms tend to taste like black truffles. These mushrooms aren’t identical to any kind of poisonous mushrooms.
Hence, even beginners can start hunting black trumpet mushrooms. Besides, they are relatively difficult to find. Usually, these species are found in the winter under specific types of trees.
Some alternate names include black chanterelle, Horn of plenty, and the trumpet of the dead.
-
Hedgehog Mushroom
Also known as Wood Hedgehog and Sweet tooth, these mushrooms have a sweet taste and aroma. This is the reason why it is called a “Sweet Tooth”.
However, these species start to develop a bitter taste once they become overgrown. These mushrooms have a nutty, meaty, and crunchy flavor. Their taste resembles that of chanterelle mushrooms.
In wild, these mushrooms are found under specific trees. These mushrooms have gills below their cap. Due to their spiky shape, these mushrooms show some resemblance to a hedgehog.
Hedgehog mushrooms don’t have a poisonous lookalike. Hence, they are safe to harvest. These are used for making a wide range of recipes. However, they work well when simmered in stock or milk.
-
Mycorrhizal Mushrooms
There is a symbiotic relationship between these mushrooms and the trees/plants. The roots or mushrooms (mycelium) create a weaving pattern around the roots of trees and plants.
Both the mushrooms and plants share their resources with each other. For instance, plants give sugar to mushrooms. On the other hand, mushrooms offer additional moisture and essential nutrients to the plants.
In fact, mycorrhizal mushrooms can benefit plants in a variety of ways. They allow the plants to grow faster and increase their strength. Some of the well-known mycorrhizal mushrooms include:
- Truffles
- Porcini
- Chanterelles
- Matsutake
-
Saprotrophic Mushrooms
These are the mushrooms, which grow on dead or decomposing matter. They break the tissues into smaller pieces releasing certain acids and enzymes. By doing so, these mushrooms can absorb the required nutrients out of such material.
Saprotrophic mushrooms are commonly found on decaying wood, plants, or even dead animals. These mushrooms act as an essential part of our ecosystem, especially the food chain.
They play a critical role when it comes to decomposing dead plants and animals. Saprotrophic mushrooms help to recycle dead material and turn it into compost.
Most of the popular mushrooms fall into the category of Saprotrophs. These include:
- Oysters
- Button mushrooms
- Shiitake
- Reishi
- Morels
- Puffballs
- Enoki
-
Endophytes
These types of mushrooms are still a mystery for scientists. This is so, as they show different growth patterns. For instance, they take the advantage of plants like a parasite.
However, these plant doesn’t experience any side effect. On the contrary, plants start to grow faster and develop more immunity against diseases. Besides, they also start to absorb excessive nutrients.
Nevertheless, these mushrooms don’t fall under the category of mycorrhizal mushrooms. Besides, these mushrooms can also grow without a hosting plan.
A lot of studies are still going on and scientists are trying to find a reason for the unique behavior of endophytes.
-
Parasitic Mushrooms
Parasitic mushrooms are different from mycorrhizal mushrooms. These are the true parasites, as they only take benefits from the host plant. In addition, parasitic mushrooms can kill the host plant by infecting it.
Below are the few most common parasitic mushrooms.
- Chaga
- Lion’s mane
- Honey fungus
Parasitic mushrooms not only damage plants and trees but can also affect insects. For instance, “Cordyceps Sinesis” or commonly known as “Caterpillar Fungus” loves to prey on insects.
They kill an insect and grow over their dead bodies. Apart from decomposing such insects, they also drive essential nutrients out of their broken-down bodies.
Edible Mushrooms
Mushrooms are divided into various types. A few of them are edible while others are poisonous. The edible species include:
- Button mushroom
- Oyster
- Porcini
- Chanterelle
Besides, the inedible mushrooms have toxic elements in them. They can cause nausea, stomach pains, or severe illness. For instance, consuming Death Cap mushrooms may prove fatal in some cases.
After discussing different types of mushrooms depending on their classification and growth tendencies, it’s time to learn about edible mushrooms.
What are Mushrooms?
The term “Mushroom” comes from the white button mushroom (Agaricus Bisporus) Hence, this term is applied to every fungus (Basidiomycota-Agaricomycetes) which have a cap, a stem, and gills.
They are also referred to as gilled fungi. These are the fleshy bodies that belong to the phylum Ascomycota. Microscopic spores are located within these gills, which help during reproduction.
All types of mushrooms are fungi. Hence, they produce spores that are identical to seeds or pollen. They are extremely lightweight and can easily disperse through the wind.
A variety of mushrooms have been researched by scientists and have shown numerous health benefits. In addition, some varieties also offer medicinal properties.
Categories of Mushrooms
Technically speaking, mushrooms are divided into six different categories. These include:
- Cultivated Mushrooms
Talking about the cultivated mushrooms, this category includes those species that are commercially grown. Farmers use a variety of methods and procedures to cultivate mushrooms on a consistent basis.
These mushrooms include all those species, which are normally available in grocery stores. For instance, the most common types of cultivated mushrooms are:
-
Medicinal Mushrooms
For centuries, mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes. Some of the most common edible mushrooms also have numerous benefits. For instance, Maitake and Shiitake are two popular types of medicinal mushrooms.
Usually, the mushrooms used for medicinal purposes have a bitter taste or are too hard to digest. Hence, such mushrooms are consumed in the shape of tea.
Besides, some are also turned into powdered form and taken in capsules. Medicinal mushrooms have health benefits that are proven scientifically.
A few of them can also reduce cholesterol and may help to treat cancer. These mushrooms also exhibit anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Following are the examples of medicinal mushrooms:
- Turkey tail
- Reishi
- Chaga
-
Wild Mushrooms
As the name suggests, these mushrooms are grown in the wild. Various types of wild mushrooms tend to grow at the bottom or live roots of specific trees.
Besides, it is not possible to cultivate wild mushrooms on the farm. This is so, as these species need a specific atmosphere and nutrients that is not possible to provide in an agricultural setting.
A few of the most common wild mushrooms are:
- Truffles
- Morels
- Chanterelle mushrooms
You can harvest them in the forest if you have the required experience. Especially, mushroom hunting depends largely on the ability to identify edible and safe specimens.
In fact, there are numerous poisonous species of wild mushrooms, which resemble edible ones. Therefore, you must be careful when differentiating poisonous mushrooms from edible ones.
-
Poisonous Mushrooms
Usually, poisonous mushrooms include most of the wild mushrooms. Since these species grow in the wild, most of the people aren’t aware of their contents or properties.
Hence, it is highly important to first identify a wild mushroom and then consume it. For example, the “Amanita Bisporigera” or commonly known as “Destroying Angel” is identical to other edible mushrooms.
Especially, poisonous mushrooms are hard to differentiate when they are still under their development stage. Some of them are often confused with puffballs or button mushrooms.
The toxins contained in most of the poisonous mushrooms are capable of damaging your liver or kidney. In some cases, these species can cause serious illness.
-
Psychoactive Mushrooms
Also known as “Magic Mushrooms,” the Psychoactive mushrooms cause psychotropic effects. In most cases, these mushrooms contain a psychoactive ingredient referred to as psilocybin. Possessing this type of mushroom is illegal in a wide range of countries.
-
Beneficial Mushrooms
There is an array of inedible mushrooms, yet they tend to be useful for various other purposes. Traditionally, a mushroom named “Amanita Muscaria” was used to get rid of flies.
For instance, people in Europe have been using these mushrooms to eradicate houseflies for hundreds of years. Hence, such mushrooms are also referred to as “Fly Agaric.”
The process involves soaking Amanita mushrooms in milk. When flies eat mushrooms or drink such milk, they eventually die. Another purpose of mushrooms is bioremediation.
In other words, bioremediation is the process of cleaning up the surrounding environment. Some of the mushrooms are capable of breaking down crude oil and similar other environmental contaminants.
The fungus can also serve as great compost. Besides, scientists and researchers are finding new ways to seek more benefits from mushrooms.
Some of the innovative usages of mushrooms involve the production of biofuels, packaging material, cleaning agents, building materials, and textiles products.
Health Benefits of Mushrooms
Mushrooms are nutrient-filled edible fungus. Hence, they are highly beneficial in a wide range of ways. Apart from being a popular ingredient in various traditional and contemporary recipes, mushrooms also have numerous health benefits.
Mushrooms contain vitamins, protein, minerals, and antioxidants. All these nutrients are highly beneficial for our health.
For instance, vitamin B can assist our body to draw the energy out of the consumed food. Besides, they also create red blood cells. These types of vitamins are also beneficial for a healthy brain.
Mushrooms offer a wide range of B vitamins. These are:
- Riboflavin, or B-2
- Pantothenic acid, or B-5
- Thiamine, or B-1
- Folate, or B-9
- Niacin, or B-3
Each type of mushroom has its specific composition. This suggests that different types of mushrooms have their own nutritional profiles. However, antioxidants are the most common ingredient found in mushrooms.
These chemicals are found in almost every type of mushroom. They help the body to get rid of free radicals. Talking about free radicals, they are toxic materials that are produced during metabolism.
These byproducts can start to accumulate in the body. Their excessive amount can cause oxidative stress. As a result, the body may face numerous health conditions.
Discussed below are the other benefits associated with mushrooms.
Vitamin D Source
Mushroom is a popular source of Vitamin D. This is among a few of the vegetarian sources of this particular vitamin.
Once they are fully grown, mushrooms start to absorb UV radiation that comes from the sun. This increases the concentration of vitamin D in these mushrooms.
Helps During Weight Management
Mushrooms can fill your belly much faster. You will feel satisfied after the meal. Besides, they are dense food with low energy. Hence, by taking low calories you can minimize the chances of gaining more weight.
You must replace your high-energy foods with mushrooms. It can help you with your weight management routine. Mushrooms can also limit the intake of fat.
Improves Immunity
Mushrooms are abundant in active polysaccharides. The beta-glucan is one of these that is soluble. It helps to activate the immune system. Besides, the body starts to make macrophages, which increases overall immunity.
Beneficial in Terms of Relieving Neurodegenerative Symptoms
There are a few species of mushrooms that offer medicinal benefits. They have certain healing properties. For instance, Reishi and Lion’s Mane are used after grinding them into powdered form.
These types of mushrooms are medicinal mushrooms that may help in relieving neurodegenerative symptoms i.e. Alzheimer’s.
Ensures better Gut Health
The beta glucon is a compound that also acts as a prebiotics. It promotes the growth of good bacteria that are commonly found in the gut. This is so, as the healthy gut ensures a healthy body.
It also allows the body to improve its immune system. Besides, a healthy gut makes sure that the body absorbs most of the nutrients available in our food.
Safety
Generally, the mushrooms bought from a store are safe to eat for a variety of individuals. However, some people may have allergic to one or two contents of mushrooms.
If this is the case, such people must avoid consuming any type of mushroom. On the contrary, the risk factor is always there when foraging food in the wild.
Mushroom hunting is gaining popularity and with this, the risk of consuming poisonous mushrooms is also increasing. This is so, as there are numerous varieties out there that are harmful to humans.
To rule out any kind of mistake, make sure to accompany an expert while foraging. Upon seeing a toxic mushroom, you should take its picture and tag it as a poisonous species.
Besides, most of the mushrooms are good to eat when cooked. Therefore, make sure to consume your mushrooms after cooking them properly.
Some types of mushrooms contain psilocybin. It is a compound found in magic mushrooms. It can result in hallucinations or sound/sight disturbance. It can also cause drowsiness, nausea, or muscle weakness.
In addition, these mushrooms are listed under class A drugs. Hence, their possession is illegal in different countries.
What is Mushroom Hunting
Talking about mushroom hunting, it is a kind of tradition rather than a form of hunting sport. In fact, this tradition has been practiced and followed for decades.
It is a type of food foraging where people find and harvest edible mushrooms from a variety of locations in the wilderness. This type of hunting is also practiced as it brings us close to nature.
Besides, it also gives us a chance to include organic food in our diet. No doubt, edible mushrooms are healthy and nutritious. Most of them also taste good.
They have distinctive flavors and aromas, giving you a new taste and smell whenever you eat mushrooms. Mushroom hunting has evolved a lot and it now includes various activities other than foraging mushrooms.
Mushroom hunting isn’t that simple as it appears. There are numerous poisonous wild mushrooms, which can cause serious harm when consumed. Hence, you need to do your homework before going out on such an adventure.
Things to Consider when Going out on Mushroom Hunting
Most people like mushroom hunting as it involves the thrill of finding mushrooms. It resonates with the finding of treasure that was buried deep into the ground.
Mushrooms are also hidden under the leaves or woods. Sometimes they are only present under the shade of a specific tree. Besides, you also have to differentiate between the edible and inedible mushrooms.
All these challenges made mushroom hunting more thrilling. When some of the mushroom hunters find a new variety, they document such discovery and continue their search for more.
As a matter of fact, you don’t need a lot of high-tech equipment for mushroom hunting. However, there are certain items that you should keep with you when finding and pricing mushrooms in the wild.
Below are the most essential aspects to consider when going out on mushroom hunting.
-
Seek Some Knowledge
The most notable and biggest concern regarding mushroom hunting is safety. Hence, it is essential to sample only the right type of mushroom. This means you should avoid messing with inedible or poisonous species.
Although death instances associated with the consumption of poisonous mushrooms are rare, a wrong type of mushroom can cause serious illness. This might range from vomiting to liver failure.
The most common saying in the community of mushroom hunting goes like this. “If in doubt, throw it out”. However, with the latest technology, it is possible to identify a poisonous mushroom.
2. Time to Find and Pick
Once you have gained the required knowledge about the various types of mushrooms, it is time to go out and be a part of a thrilling adventure.
However, before going out, make sure to bring some essential things with you. These are simple and basic things, which you normally found at your home.
-
Mesh bag or Basket
You must try to become an experienced and responsible mushroom hunter. This will ensure that both you and the mushrooms will be there next season.
To start with, you need to bring a basket or some sort of mesh bag. This sort of mushroom carrier ensures that spores continue to drop out of the basket/mesh bag and fall onto the forest floor.
As a result, you are actually helping with the dispersal of the spores. This ensures a better population of mushrooms next year.
-
Pocket Knife
Once you have picked an edible mushroom you need a sharp-edged tool to clean up the stems or other debris. You can also cut down the bad parts of a picked mushroom.
In order to extract mushrooms from their ground, you need a sharp pocketknife. A folding knife with a retractable blade is safe to carry.
Besides, it is a good idea to paste some reflective tape at the handle of your pocketknife. This will make it possible to find your pocketknife if you have accidentally dropped it.
-
Small Cleaning Brush
Keep with you a small brush to clean the upper and lower parts of the picked mushrooms. The brush should be soft and have tender bristles. This ensures you don’t damage your mushrooms.
Besides, cleaning with a brush also allows you to clean the dirt before it actually enters into the gills. This is important as the dust can ruin the taste of cooked mushrooms.
Besides, initial cleaning of the mushrooms means you don’t have to spend much time cleaning them later. Most probably, a small brush will do the trick.
-
Food and Water
While you are out in the wild, there might be no food or water. This suggests that you must bring with you some sorts of snacks i.e. crackers, nuts, wafers, or chocolate, etc.
In addition, also bring a sufficient amount of water depending on the duration of your trip and weather conditions. Furthermore, in any unexpected scenario, you must have food and water supplies.
-
A Way to Communicate
When out there in the wild, you must have some sort of communication tool. If your cellular carrier offers coverage, it is good to bring your smartphone with you.
On the contrary, you should carry a walky-talky to stay connected with your friends who are at the base camp.
-
Bug Spray
Forests are full of insects or bugs such as mosquitoes and ticks. Even a single bite can cause irritation. This can make you uncomfortable and ruin your trip. Hence, it is advised to bring with you a bug spray or some sort of insect repellent.
-
First Aid Kit
It is common to receive some minor cuts or bruises on your hand and arm. However, you can’t leave such issues unattended. This is so, as numerous parasites or bacteria are lurking out in the wild.
Hence, even a small cut or injury may lead to serious skin-related complications. So, make sure to bring with you a first aid kit.
Tips for Using or Preserve Wild Mushrooms
Here are the tips to keep in mind while harvesting or preserving mushrooms.
- Before starting to pick any kind of mushroom, you should make sure not to harvest more than what you need. If you end up picking more than what is necessary, it would be a misuse of resources.
- Freshly picked mushrooms offer great taste. Hence, use your mushrooms in soup or pasta when they are fresh. You can also grill these mushrooms to enjoy the best taste.
- Make sure to cook wild mushrooms thoroughly. Avoid eating them raw, as a variety of parasites might be attached to the surface of a wild mushroom.
- After drying, keep your wild mushrooms in an airtight jar or vacuum sealer.
